Country: Madagascar
Closing date: 11 Sep 2016
Pro-Poor Labour Market and Value Chain Analysis in Sava Region, Madagascar – Terms of Reference
- Introduction and Context
Breaking Inter-generational Transfer of Poverty in Vanilla Producing Communities in SAVA region, Madagascar
Madagascar is the largest producer of vanilla globally, with local production representing between 50% and 80% of the global supply. The Sava region of Madagascar is known as the ‘Vanilla Belt’ of the country and vanilla is at the heart of its communities and local economies. As a result, children in Sava are directly linked to and impacted by the vanilla supply chain – their parents are likely to farm vanilla, young people may become vanilla farmers and, in some cases, participate in vanilla related activities themselves on farms owned by their families or other community members.
However, despite the presence of vanilla in the SAVA region, 70% of households living in these communities are classified as either ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. Within this figure, 5% of households are identified as ‘extremely poor’. These households are mainly landless or have very limited access to land, and so rely mainly on casual labour as their main source of income. In addition many youth who do not hold their own land lack opportunities to transition to decent work, and those that do, often desire alternative opportunities as they associate farming with poverty.
Save the Children is aiming to overcome these issues through a) providing very poor households and youth with skills training and/or access to affordable finance; b) working with market actors to improve fair access for poor households and youth.
- Purpose of the assessment
This study will be used to assist Save the Children to identify viable livelihood options for very poor households (landless or land poor) and youth with limited and no assets, with a particular emphasis on women. The work will take place in the Andapa and Sambava Districts of the SAVA Region. The programme aims to support livelihood activities at scale through support to targeted individuals and collaboration with value chain actors. In addition to identifying relevant value chains to promote, the programme therefore needs support to identify innovative partnerships with private sector partners and others that could help to achieve our aims.
Scope of the assessment
The proposed consultancy will involve a two-stage assessment and analysis process involving a broad value chain/labour market assessment and a detailed value chain analysis.
The first phase will be to undertake a detailed analysis of the job and other income opportunities for very poor households (landless or land poor) and youth with limited and no assets, with a particular emphasis on women in the proposed programme area. This would include opportunities for employment as well as opportunities for establishment/growth of income generating activities (both farm and off-farm).
The main questions to be answered under phase one are as follows:
- What safe and profitable job opportunities are currently present in the area of intervention that do not require high levels of education or land?
- What actions are needed to enable our target group to access these opportunities?
- What value chains are currently present in the area of intervention?
- Which of these value chains have most potential for target groups to participate in and achieve adequate benefits from and why are these identified?
- What is the market potential of the value chains with largest potential?
- What broad actions are needed to ensure target groups are better able to engage with identified value chains and gain adequate benefit from them?
- What additional lines of enquiry are recommended for individual value chains?
- What business development services are needed to facilitate target group access to each potential market, and to support them along the value chain?
The second phase would be to conduct a full analysis of one value chain that is identified to have high pro-poor potential. The aim of this analysis is to identify key interventions for value chain strengthening that would bring direct benefits to the target households and enable greater access to decent work/livelihoods linked to this value chain.
The main questions to be answered under phase two are as follows:
- Who is involved in the value chain (including main services to the value chain) and how are these actors linked, including profits and quantities along the value chain?
- What are the formal and informal rules which govern the value chain including the impact of power dynamics along the value chain?
- What are the opportunities/gaps for ensuring that this value chain operates in a more pro-poor way which will benefit target groups?
- What are the skills or services which need to be addressed to ensure target groups can access the value chain and gain adequate benefit from this?
- Who are the (Rural) Business Development Services facilitators and suppliers? What are their delivery conditions? How can target groups be best supported to access these BDS?
Role of Save the Children
Save the Children will provide coordination to link the consultant/team with the project team. The country office will also put in the disposal of the consultant/team all background documents and key studies. Save the Children will provide venues for discussion and facilitate coordination with the required stakeholders for key interviews.
Detailed guidelines on how to structure the reports will be provided to the consultant/team prior to commencement of the activity. The consultant/team should conform to the provided format.
- Activities and Deliverables
The consultants/ organization will be required to share their proposed methodology for approval by Save the Children International in the inception report. The specific tasks for the consultant will include:
List of key activities
Conduct desk-review of existing literature and studies in the target area to inform development of the study design and report;
Propose a study design, methodology and proposed data collection tools and engagement plan for phase one and two as outlined above;
Finalise the above in collaboration with Save the Children and programme partners/stakeholders as identified by Save the Children;
Collection of primary data ensuring that all data collectors receive adequate training on data collection tools and child safeguarding;
Analysis of data and sharing of initial findings with Save the Children for phase one and phase two leading to allow for early feedback and adjustments;
Creation of 2 high quality reports (one for each phase) which clearly answer the study questions.
Deliverables of the consultancy
- Desk based review
- Study design, methodology, tools and engagement plan
- Power point presentation of main findings at draft report stage (to be presented to and discussed with the Save the Children team)
- Reports for Phase one and Phase two
Reports will be produced in French, although we will request an English translation of the executive summary of any reports.
Tools and data sets
On submission of the final report, all tools used for collection and management of data collection processes should be submitted together with the final report. This includes the raw data, (including original field notes for in‐depth interviews and focus group discussions, as well as recorded audio material), and other data collection tools.
A simple inventory of material handed over will be part of the record. Save the Children has sole ownership of all final data and any findings shall only be shared or reproduced with the permission of Save the Children.
- Timeline
The consultant is expected to complete the activities described above leading to submission of both draft reports by December 15th and finalisation of reports by January 30th.
- Required profile of the consultant
The consultant/team must demonstrate the following qualifications in order to be eligible for this assignment:
- Proven track record of pro-poor and gender sensitive value chain analysis and labour market analysis, in both on and off farm sectors, targeting the poorest households
- Masters degree or equivalent experience in Rural development or other related field
- Proven track record of the development of successful pro-poor markets systems development programmes, ideally in Madagascar
- Ability to integrate gender analysis and child protection as an integral part of market systems analysis and development
- Knowledge of relevant policy frameworks in Madagascar
- Excellent written French/English skills
Desirable:
- An understanding of livelihood and agronomy and the links to market in Madagascar
- Experience of the working in the Sava Region of Madagascar
N.B. A Malagasy national must be included in the research design, training and oversight
- Budgets and payment
Budgets
As part of the proposal, interested consultants should submit their competitive bid budget and work-plan to undertake this piece of work in line with these terms of reference.
Save the Children understands that budget forecast could vary according to the methodology of the study but expects consultants to provide a strong rationale for their forecast. Generally, Save the Children covers the following costs directly: - economy class airfares; in-country accommodation bookings (mid-class hotel, and meals taken in the hotel only); in-country transportation arrangements.
Other expenses in the proposal, and agreed in advance with Save the Children, will be reimbursed upon production of receipts and relevant documentation.
Schedule of payment
Please note that the content of the report will be analysed and final payment will only be made upon agreement on the final baseline survey report from the Save the Children.
The following payments will be made to the selected consultant/team using an agreed mode of payment:
- After acceptance of proposed methodology and tools: 20%
- After receipt of draft reports: 50%
- After acceptance and approval of final report: 30%
How to apply:
Instructions forbidding
Bidders are requested to respond to sections 4 and 5 then return this document with the relevant sections completed via email (no hard copies required) to tenders@savethechildren.org.uk and D.Jeffery@savethechildren.org.uk
To request a Word version of this Request for proposals please email: l.loperfido@savethechildren.org.uk
Deadline for submission: 11 September 2016
Response period: 3 weeks
This Request for Proposal does not constitute an offer and Save the Children UK (SCUK) does not bind itself to accept any proposal. SCUK reserves the right to accept a proposal in part, rather than in full.
Tendering Timelines
Activity
Date
Deadline for submissions
11 September 2016
Award of contract
23 September 2016
Contract start date[1]
10 October or ASAP
4 Bidder’s response – service delivery
The proposal should include the following sections:
- Detailed methodology
- Consultant profile and capacities
- Statement of experience
- Work-plan and delivery timeframes
- Insurance
- Child safeguarding
- Detailed financial offer
Detailed methodology
Outline the detailed methodology for undertaking the key activities set out in the Terms of Reference
Team composition, profile and capacities
Bidders should provide the detailed CV of each individual responsible for carrying out the work.
CVs should include staff members' educational background, degrees and diplomas, professional experience, research work, publications and linguistic skills.
Statement of experience
Bidders should provide a detailed description of their relevant experience in the line of work, including similar or relevant projects undertaken in the past and their geographical coverage.
Please provide contact details of 2 key references for which the Bidder has provided services similar to those required by SCUK.
Work-plan and delivery timeframes
Bidders should provide a detailed schedule of all activities, tasks, deliverables, and progress reports required for this project. This must be in line with the list of activities and deliverables set out in the Terms of Reference.
Insurance
Bidders should set out what insurances and levels of cover they hold.
Child Safeguarding
Due to the nature of the services to be provided by the consultant/consultants, SCUK requires appropriate safeguarding checks to be in place.
If the consultant resides outside of the United Kingdom, or is UK based but has a residential history outside the United Kingdom in the last 6 years where they have been residing for 6 months or longer, then International Police Checks (IPC) are required.
If the consultant is UK based and has not resided outside of the United Kingdom for 6 months or longer in the last 6 years, then we require an enhanced Disclose and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Bidders should state whether they hold a DBS and/or IPC that has been obtained within the last 2 years. If not SCUK will obtain these checks and reserve the right to pass this cost onto the consultant.
5 Bidder’s response – Cost proposal
5.1 Please provide your proposed cost in the table below.
All bids must contain a financial proposal to be submitted according to the form below.
Prices are to be quoted in GBP. For bidders based in countries where GBP is not the main currency, the evolution of the exchange rate will not be a reason to modify the price of the initial tender. Bidders choose the exchange rate and assume all risks or opportunities relating to the rate fluctuation.
The price per work stage must include all consultancy costs and expenses (including travel and subsistence expenses)
The rates and cost quoted shall be the fully inclusive value of the services, excluding VAT or other government taxes, which may be required to provide the complete services together with all general risks, liabilities and obligations, set out or implied, necessary to comply with the Conditions of Contract and the Terms of Reference.
Bidders must state whether VAT, or any other government taxes, apply, and if so what the taxable rate would be.
Work stage
Daily* rate
Proposed number of hours/days
Total cost
GBP
Ex. Undertake the in-depth desk review
(add stages as appropriate)
TOTAL (GBP)
* minimum of 7 hours per day
5.2 Other costs:
If there are any further costs or expenses that you propose charging, such as travel and subsistence, please detail these below together with an explanation.
Cost description
Value
Reason
TOTAL (GBP)
6 engagement & Payment
As a donor funded body SCUK is committed to ensuring our resources are used as efficiently as possible, in order that we can focus them on achieving maximum impact for children and that our arrangements with third party suppliers represent value for money. We expect this approach to be demonstrated from any contractor it does business with.
The successful bidder will be asked to sign a service agreement (attached as Appendix 2), following completion of a due diligence process.
It is SCUK policy to pay for services upon delivery on 30 day payment terms.